Welcome to Fear City

Welcome to Fear City: NYPD Surveillance Films from The Bureau of Special Services

The NYPD Bureau of Special Services conducted covert surveillance on political and social activists from 1960 to 1980, capturing on film activities of the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War protestors, Cold War activists and many more developments of this politically tumultuous period. Now, all 1,450 films have been digitized and made publicly available by the NYC Department of Records.

This special screening features a small selection of these revealing films hosted by the former film archivist from the NYC Department of Records who digitized and preserved these films. Join us for an open discussion and screening of the contents of these silent films where the audience is encouraged to pose their questions to the archivist who worked directly with these historic records.